U.S. patent number 6,170,842 [Application Number 09/219,674] was granted by the patent office on 2001-01-09 for step system on vehicle bumper for accessing truck beds and methods of making and operating the step system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Bad River, Inc.. Invention is credited to Gerald E. Mueller.
United States Patent |
6,170,842 |
Mueller |
January 9, 2001 |
Step system on vehicle bumper for accessing truck beds and methods
of making and operating the step system
Abstract
A step assembly in combination with a vehicle having a frame and
a rear bumper, with an upper surface and a generally vertical outer
face, attached to the vehicle frame has an attachment leg with a
generally perpendicularly extending step portion. A step bracket
supported on the outer face of the bumper mounts the step for
swinging movement from a first operative position in which one side
of the attachment leg is disposed generally vertically adjacent the
bumper face and the step portion extends generally perpendicularly
to a retracted second position in which the opposite side of the
attachment leg lies vertically adjacent the bumper and the step
portion is inversely disposed and extends along the upper surface
of the bumper. A lock device is automatically operative between the
mount and step under the influence of gravity for releasably
locking the step in both positions.
Inventors: |
Mueller; Gerald E.
(Frankenmuth, MI) |
Assignee: |
Bad River, Inc. (Saginaw,
MI)
|
Family
ID: |
22820258 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/219,674 |
Filed: |
December 23, 1998 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
280/163;
280/166 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R
3/02 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60R
3/02 (20060101); B60R 3/00 (20060101); B60R
003/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;280/163,166,164,169
;293/155,128,122 ;296/29 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Johnson; Brian L.
Assistant Examiner: Avery; Bridget
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Reising, Ethington, Barnes,
Kisselle, Learman & McCulloch, P.C.
Claims
I claim:
1. In combination with a vehicle having a frame, a truck bed on the
frame having a rear tailgate, and a rear bumper having an upper
surface and a rearward generally vertical face, below said
tailgate, and attached to the vehicle frame; an automatically
locking step assembly comprising:
a. a step having an attachment leg and a generally perpendicularly
extending step portion of a width to receive a foot in general
parallel disposition with said bumper;
b. a mount supported on said bumper having a swinging connection
with said step attachment leg and mounting said step for swinging
movement from a first operative position in which said attachment
leg is disposed generally vertically adjacent said bumper face and
said step portion extends rearwardly to a retracted second position
pivoted upwardly through an angle of substantially 180 degrees in
which said attachment leg is vertically adjacent said bumper and
said step portion is inversely disposed and extends in a forward
direction along the upper surface of said bumper; and
c. a lock device automatically operative between said mount and
step under the influence of gravity for releasably locking said
step in both said first and second positions when said step is
released following its swinging to said positions.
2. The combination defined in claim 1 in which a resilient pad
system mounts to and extends forwardly from said step attachment
leg when the step is in said first position to engage the said face
of said bumper to support the attachment leg in spaced position
therefrom, and in said second step position engages the said face
of said bumper to support the step portion in raised position above
the upper surface of said bumper.
3. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said mount comprises
a plate having laterally spaced apart rearwardly extending brackets
with aligned downwardly and forwardly inclined slots therein, said
attachment leg having laterally projecting pins with flatted
sections thereon extending through said slots to be captured
therein, and functioning with said slots as said lock device; said
slots having upper enlarged portions permitting rotation of said
flatted sections of said pins and a lower reduced width portion
permitting downward sliding motion of said flatted sections of said
pins while restricting rotation of said flatted sections of said
pins.
4. The combination defined in claim 3 wherein said slots are
keyhole shaped and said lower portions thereof extend at a downward
and forward angle generally in the four to five o'clock range to
tend to wedge the pins against undesired movement.
5. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said step portion has
an angular terminal flange which extends upwardly angularly when
the step is in said first position.
6. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said bumper face has
an opening near one end for attachment of the bumper to the vehicle
frame and a fastener extending therethrough fixes said step to the
bumper and said bumper to the frame.
7. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said lock device
comprises a connection between said attachment leg and mount
wherein pivoting of said step on said mount is prohibited in said
first and second positions but said leg can be slid vertically
relative to said mount to a position in which pivoting of said step
about said mount is permitted.
8. In a method of operating a bumper step assembly used on a
vehicle having a frame supporting a bumper with a generally
vertical face; said bumper step assembly including a step having an
attachment leg and a generally perpendicularly extending step
portion; a mount supported on said bumper face having a swinging
connection with said attachment leg and mounting said step for
swinging movement from a first operative, locked position in which
said leg is disposed generally vertically adjacent said bumper face
and said step portion extends generally horizontally to a second
retracted locked position pivoted upwardly in which said step
portion is inversely disposed; and a lock device comprising a
connection between said mount and step attachment leg wherein
pivoting of said step is permitted only when said leg is generally
linearly raised from said first and second positions but is
prohibited from pivoting unless said leg is so raised, the steps
of:
a. sliding said attachment leg upwardly relative to said mount from
said first position to a raised position in which said leg can
pivot;
b. swinging said leg upwardly through substantially a 180 degree
arc to invert said step portion; and
c. permitting said upwardly swung leg to slide downwardly to locked
position.
9. The method of claim 8 including the further steps of:
d. sliding said attachment leg upwardly relative to said mount from
said second position;
e. swinging said leg downwardly toward said first position; and
f. permitting said leg to slide downwardly to locked position.
10. A step device for a vehicle having a frame and a rear bumper,
with an upper surface and a generally vertical outer face attached
to the vehicle frame comprising;
a. a step having an attachment leg with opposite sides and a
generally perpendicularly extending step portion of a width to
receive a foot in generally parallel disposition with said
bumper;
b. a mount bracket to be supported on said bumper having a swinging
connection with said step attachment leg and mounting said step for
swinging movement from a first operative position in which one side
of said attachment leg is disposed generally vertically adjacent
said bumper face and said step portion extends generally
perpendicularly to a retracted second position pivoted upwardly
through an angle to dispose the opposite side of said attachment
leg generally vertically adjacent said bumper in a position in
which said step portion is generally inversely disposed to extend
above the upper surface of said bumper; and
c. a lock device automatically operative between said mount and
step under the influence of gravity for releasably locking said
step in both said first and second positions when said step is
released following its swinging to said positions.
11. The combination defined in claim 10 in which a resilient member
mounts to and extends from both sides of said step attachment leg
to engage the said face of said bumper when the step is in either
of its positions.
12. The combination defined in claim 10 wherein said mount
comprises a plate having laterally spaced apart generally
perpendicularly extending brackets with aligned vertically inclined
slots inclined downwardly in a direction toward said plate, said
attachment leg having laterally projecting pins with reduced
sections thereon extending through said slots to be captured
therein, and functioning with said slots as said lock device; said
slots having upper enlarged portions permitting rotation of said
reduced sections and lower reduced portions permitting downward
sliding motion of said reduced sections of said pins while
restricting rotation of said reduced sections of said pins.
13. The combination defined in claim 12 wherein said reduced
portions of said slots extend at a downward angle generally in the
four to five o'clock direction.
14. The combination defined in claim 10 wherein said step portion
has an angular terminal flange which extends upwardly angularly
when the step is in said first position.
15. The invention defined in claim 10 wherein said lock device
comprises a connection between said attachment leg and mount
functioning to support said step on said mount and wherein pivoting
of said step on said mount is prohibited in said first and second
positions but sliding movement of said leg upwardly relative to
said mount is permitted to a position in which said connection
permits pivoting of said step about said mount.
16. In a method of making a bumper step assembly used on a vehicle
having a frame supporting a bumper with a generally vertical face;
said bumper step assembly including a step having an attachment leg
and a generally perpendicularly extending step portion; a mount
adapted to be supported on said bumper face and having a swinging
connection with said attachment leg for mounting said step for
swinging movement from a first operative, locked position in which
said leg is disposed generally vertically adjacent said bumper face
and said step portion extends generally horizontally to a second
retracted locked position pivoted upwardly in which said step
portion is inversely disposed; and a lock device comprising a step
supporting connection between said mount and step attachment leg
comprising configured tracks in said mount; the steps of:
a. providing said mounts in conjunction with pins with ends
configured and sized to coact with said tracks so that pivoting of
said pins is permitted only when said leg is generally linearly
raised from either of said first and second positions but is
prohibited from pivoting unless said leg is so raised;
b. inserting said pin ends into said slots and fixing said pins to
said step portion; and
c. permitting said pin ends to descend in said tracks.
17. The method of claim 16 comprising forming said mount slots with
enlarged upper ends in which said pin ends can freely rotate and
reduced width lower portions comprising slot portions extending at
a downwardly inclined angle in which said pin ends can slide but
not rotate.
Description
This invention relates to steps of the type which can be used at
the rear of a truck vehicle below the tailgate on the rear bumper
for accessing the truck bed.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention is concerned with certain new and useful improvements
in steps of this character which have been previously proposed. In
U.S. Pat. No. 3,627,350, granted to Denver F. Cross, Jul. 14, 1971,
a bumper step is disclosed which in one position functions as a
horizontally rearwardly extending tread plate and in a second
position disposes the tread plate in inverted position above the
generally horizontal upper surface of the bumper. This angular
bumper step has not, to applicant's knowledge, enjoyed significant
commercial favor and the present inventor believes that one reason
for this is that, in both positions, the step will move and rattle
when traversing rough roadways and rough terrain. In fact, not only
will noisy and annoying rattling occur with this prior art
construction, which I incorporate herein by reference, the bouncing
and jouncing of the truck may well cause the step to swing down
from its upper position.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The bumper step of the present invention provides an integrated
locking mechanism as a connection between the step mount and step
attachment leg wherein pivoting of the step is permitted only when
the leg is generally linearly raised from either of the operative
and storage positions, but is prohibited unless the step is so
raised. The construction is such as to automatically gravity lock
the step in both its operative and storage positions.
One of the prime objects of the invention is to provide a bumper
step assembly which is shiftable between a lower position of use
and a rotated folded over storage position, and is automatically
locked in both positions.
Another object of the invention is to provide a step attachment leg
and mount mechanism which automatically locks the step in position,
utilizing the forces of gravity, when the step is moved to either
of its operative or storage positions.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a relatively
simple step construction of this character in which the locking
mechanism is provided as a function of the mount of the step and
locking occurs automatically so that no manual engagement or
disengagement of a separate locking mechanism is necessary.
A further object of the invention is to design a step which is held
out away from the bumper in both use and storage positions by the
same functioning element and cannot mar the bumper surfaces.
Another object of the invention is to provide a step which is very
stable in its lowered position of use and is relatively economical
to manufacture and assemble.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a very durable
step which can be readily mounted in position by the vehicle
owner.
Another object of the invention is to provide a safe and reliable
step designed to be conveniently secured to the bumper of an
automotive vehicle such as a truck, camper, or trailer to enable a
ready ascent or descent to or from a vehicle.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a bumper step
which is rugged in construction and easy to move to and from locked
storage and use positions.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The presently preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in
the following description and in the accompanying drawings,
wherein:
FIG. 1 is a schematic, partly sectional, side elevational view of
the bumper step showing it mounted on a vehicle in its use
position, certain chain lines indicating its locked storage
position and other chain lines indicating an initially unlocked
position of the bumper step at both positions;
FIG. 2 is a front elevational view thereof;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged front elevational view of the step mount
bracket only;
FIG. 4 is an end elevational view thereof;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged front elevational view of one of the step
mount pins only;
FIG. 6 is an end elevational view thereof;
FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the bumper mounting bolt
only;
FIG. 8 is an end elevational view thereof; and
FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of a pick-up truck with its
tailgate in lowered position, the chain lines indicating the
general location of the step assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now particularly to the accompanying drawings, and in the
first instance to FIGS. 1-2 and 9, the rear end of a pickup truck
is generally shown at T as including a vehicle frame part 10 on
which a rear bumper, generally designated B, is mounted in a
rearwardly protruding position rearwardly of and below a pivotal
tailgate assembly, generally designated G. While believed useful
with other vehicles, the focus of the invention is to provide an
accessing step to be used on the rear bumper of full size pickup
trucks. The bumper B shown is one which has been used on
4.times.4's, of which many millions have been sold over the years
and are in present use.
The present invention is particularly designed to be readily
retrofitted to such vehicles whose bumpers include a generally flat
upper surface 10 and a rear vertical surface configuration
including upper and lower flat portions 11 and 12, respectively,
bordering an inset flat surface 13. It is contemplated that a pair
of the steps, generally designated S, are to be mounted on each
rear bumper B, one adjacent each end of the bumper, as shown,
particularly, in FIG. 2.
Each bumper step S comprises an angular member having an attachment
leg 14 and a step portion or tread 15 provided with an angularly
upwardly and rearwardly extending terminal edge 15a. Raised tread
surfaces 15b are provided on the tread plate 15. The step S also
includes a mount or mount bracket, generally designated M,
positioned over a predrilled available opening 16 in the bumper
face 13 which can be secured by a carriage bolt, generally
designated 17, which extends through an opening boa in a frame
brace 10b and is secured by a nut 17b. The carriage bolt 17
includes the usual square-shaped shank portion 17a, received within
a square-shaped opening 18 provided through the mount plate 19 of
the mount M, which has rearwardly extending bracket ears 20 at each
end. It is to be noted that the rear face of the mount plate 19 is
flat to correspond to the inset flat surface 13.
Welded as at 21, or otherwise appropriately fixed to the upper edge
of the attachment leg 14 of the step S, are step pins 22, which as
FIGS. 5 and 6 particularly illustrate, have flatted surfaces 22a
provided on their outer ends. As FIG. 1 particularly indicates, the
pins 22 extend through tracks or slots, generally designated 23,
provided in the end members 20, as shown particularly in FIG. 4,
and have enlarged circular restraining caps or ends 24 fixed at
their outer ends. The enlarged caps or ends 24 may conveniently
consist of washers welded to the ends of pins 22. There is an axial
clearance provided between the caps 24 and the faces of the bracket
ends 20 to permit a limited axial float of the step S with respect
to the mount M.
Referring again to FIG. 4, it will be observed that the through
slots 23 include enlarged, circular, upper portions 23a of a
diameter to permit rotation of the flatted outer ends of pins 22
therein and reduced lower portions 23b, of a size only to slideably
accommodate the flatted portions 22a of the pins 22, which extend
at an forwardly and downwardly extending angle "x" to the vertical
in the nature of 45 degrees and may be said to extend in a four to
five o'clock range direction.
It is the flatted ends 22a of the pins 22, which are accommodated
within the keyhole openings or tracks 23. The pins 22 cannot rotate
within the portions 23b and can only slide generally vertically
therein. When the flatted ends of the pins 22 reach the portions
23a of the openings 23, however, they are freely rotatable
therein.
Provided in a predetermined location on the attachment leg 14 of
the step S is an opening, generally designated 25, which is of a
diameter to seat the neck portion 26a of a resilient elastomeric
grommet or pad 26, which includes an enlarged diameter portion 27
and an enlarged diameter portion 28. The grommet 26, is formed with
a through opening 29, to permit its ready deformation on
installation. As FIG. 1 clearly shows, when the step S is in its
first or operative position, the portion 28 of the grommet 26 is in
engagement with the surface 12, and when the step S is swung up to
its upper storage position, which may also be termed its second
position, the wall 27 is in engagement with the surface 11.
The Operation
With the step S in its operative first position, shown in solid
lines in FIG. 1, adjacent an end of the bumper B, a user may raise
a foot in sidewise disposition, extending transversely to the
longitudinal extent of the vehicle, to the top of the tread portion
15, while at the same time grasping the side wall of the truck load
bed to pull himself or herself, upwardly to a position to access
the tailgate and truck bed. This can be accomplished with the
tailgate in either swung down or vertically secured position. The
inclination 15a of the step portion 15 tends to deflect the foot of
the person forwardly toward the leg 14 to prevent the foot from
tending to slip off the step portion 15 which it will be noted also
has a tread surface.
In the use position, the step tends to drive or wedge itself into
locked position when weight is applied to the step portion 15 as
the flatted portions 22a of the pins 22 drive angularly in the
inclined opening portions 23b. The general four to five o'clock
angle of extent also tends to eliminate lateral tilting movement of
the step surface if a load is unevenly applied to the step 15, as
when the stepping pressure is applied initially on one side of the
step or tread surface 15 in the act of mounting the step. The
particular angularity of the portions 23b has further been shown to
best prevent any jouncing or bouncing movement of the step S when
the vehicle is being driven over bumpy roads or uneven terrain.
When, for example, loading or unloading of the vehicle is completed
and the vehicle is to be driven away, the step S may be moved to
storage position by initially sliding it upwardly in a generally
vertical direction, (upward and rearward) until the flatted end
portions 22a are situated in the portions 23a of the slots 23. In
this position, the tread or step portion 15 will be in the 15' and
15a' position shown in FIG. 1 in chain lines, and the step 15 may
be rotated in an arc "y" through substantially 180.degree. to the
15"-15a" position shown in FIG. 1. When the step in the 15"
position is released, gravity will move the flatted portions 22a of
the pins downwardly in the slot portions 23b to wedge lock the step
in its second or storage position which is indicated in chain lines
at 15'". When use of the step S is again to be resumed, it is only
necessary to lift the step portion in the storage position upwardly
and rearwardly to remove the flatted portions 22a of pins 22 from
the portions 23b of the slots 23 so that the step S can be swung
down in the return arc "y" to position 15'-15a' and then permit
gravity forces to move the pin ends 22a into slot portions 23b and
the locked position.
Method of Construction
Normally, the bumper B is bolted to the frame brace 10b by a bolt
extending through openings 16 and 10a. When this bolt is removed,
the mount M will, first of all, be fixed in position by securing
the carriage bolt 17 so as to provide the keyhole slots 23 with an
upper enlarged portion 23a and a lower reduced size portion 23b in
proper position. With the pins 22, with their cap ends 24, inserted
through the openings 23, it is only necessary then to weld the pins
22 to the step leg 14 as indicated in FIG. 2.
Alternatively to the foregoing, various parts may be reversed. For
instance the pins 22 may be fixed to the mount plate 13 and the
slots 23 or tracks could be provided in ears fixed to the leg
portion 14, although not with the same ease of manufacture.
The disclosed embodiment is representative of a presently preferred
form of the invention, but is intended to be illustrative rather
than definitive thereof. The invention is defined in the
claims.
* * * * *